ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Han Sa Yu, 44, a resident of Maryland who is originally from South Korea, was sentenced today to 210 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for using fear, violence and threats of violence to extort Korean businesses operating in Annandale, Va. Yu also agreed to pay over $98,000 in restitution to the victims of his extortion.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and John P. Torres, Special Agent in Charge for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Washington, D.C., made the announcement after sentencing by United States District Judge James C. Cacheris.

Yu pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit extortion on Nov. 9, 2012. According to court documents, around 2006, Yu founded the Korean Night Breeders to carry out extortions of various businesses in Annandale, including doumi, restaurants, and taxi businesses. The Korean Night Breeders targeted businesses owned by persons of Korean descent and frequently sought out those that employed illegal aliens. Dressed in black suits, which became their uniform, Yu and the Korean Night Breeders would surround their victims and threaten violence unless they paid a “tax” or “protection” money. From one victim alone, the Korean Night Breeders extorted more than $30,000. Various restaurants in Annandale either paid extortion or provided free food and drink to the Korean Night Breeders.

Yu, also known as “Thunder” and “Bungay,” modeled the gang after Asian organized crime syndicates. He would hold meetings where the gang would discuss potential victims, and Yu would teach fighting techniques and his extortion protocol. The size of the gang varied, but at times had 15 or more members. Yu and his gang used the extortion proceeds to purchase marijuana and cocaine, among other things. Three of Yu’s co-conspirators also pled guilty and are scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 22, 2013.

This case was investigated by the Transnational Gang Unit of ICE HSI’s Washington, D.C., Field Office, with assistance from the Fairfax County Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Frank and Virginia Assistant Attorney General and Special Assistant United States Attorney Marc J. Birnbaum prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.